Self-contained, intermittent positive airway pressure systems and methods for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disorders

Abstract

Systems and methods provide a self-contained, intermittent positive airway pressure system for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and other respiratory disorders. The systems and methods provide an air flow director that can be worn in or over the nose of the individual in communication with an upper airway. The systems and methods provide an airflow regulation assembly that can also be worn in its entirety by the individual in communication with the air flow director. The airflow regulation assembly includes a source of positive pressure. The airflow regulation assembly intermittently operates the source of positive pressure to increase positive air pressure in the air flow director sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during only a portion of the respiratory cycle less than the entire respiratory cycle.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 143,371 filed 8 Jan. 2009, and entitled “DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING RESPIRATORY DISORDERS” which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention generally relates to respiration aids to prevent partial or complete airway blockage during sleep, or other respiratory disorders. The invention also generally relates to positive airway pressure systems and methods.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]During sleep, all muscles, including those of the upper airway, lose tone and relax. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when tissue blocks the upper airway during sleep. This will cause a drop in blood oxygen and a rise in blood carbon dioxide. The brain will sense these changes, and awaken the person enough to restore muscle tone to the structures of the upper airway, and the airway will reopen.[0004]The severity of OSA is determined by the number ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]In one illustrative embodiment, the airflow director comprises a mask that fits over the nose or nose and mouth, and which may have portions within the nostrils. The source of pressurized air in the airflow regulation assembly provides increased air pressure within the mask and upper airway sufficient to resist tissue collapse in the upper airway during at least a portion of exhalation and / or inhalation without a separate pressurizing console. Airflow may also be restricted upon exhalation by one or more exhaust holes with limited cross-sectional area or turbines through which exhaled air may pass, to increase pressure in mask and inflate the upper airway during exhalation.

Problems solved by technology

This will cause a drop in blood oxygen and a rise in blood carbon dioxide.

OSA disrupts restorative sleep.

The limited success of these approaches likely stems from the fact that they don't address all anatomical sources of a blockage.

The drawback to CPAP is poor patient compliance.

Patients dislike several aspects of CPAP including: having to wear a mask, being tethered to a pressurizing console, the noise of the console, traveling with a bulky device, and a loss of personal space in the bed.

Early results with this type of device are promising, although the results are not as good as those achieved with CPAP.

The drawback to the devices described by Doshi is that increased airway pressure (the “Pneumatic splint”) is only achieved during exhalation: there is no increased pressure during inhalation.

Additionally, the nasal device described by Doshi cannot be used beneficially by mouth breathers, or patients who become mouth breathers when resistance is added to the nasal passages.

The drawback to the system is that it does not allow the patients to complete expiration before initiating inspiration.

The drawback to the system is the requirement for a sizable device within the mouth.

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